40 HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



from home- 1 often step in; but he is seldom so far 

 away but that his keen eye sees me, and I hear his 

 scolding note, which I always promptly obey. Noth- 

 ing will so quickly make a bird familiar as to show him 

 that he can drive us ; and following this up with pa- 

 tience and care, he will soon confide in us, and learn 

 our voice, and manifest delight on meeting us. This 

 is specially true of the mocking-bird, and his cousin the 

 catbird. But the mocking-bird of East Florida is less 

 confiding than our Northern catbird, for the very good 

 reason that he looks upon man as an enemy who robs 

 him of his young ; and this shyness or distrust on the 

 part of this glorious bird of song is in a large part 

 attributable to the rapacity of Northern visitors, who 

 sometimes pay as high as fifty dollars for a good singer. 

 As long as this continues we cannot expect the birds to 

 confide in us without much care and labor. 



Nearly two weeks, with the greatest caution upon my 

 part, had passed before I could approach this mock- 

 ing king's dominion without hearing his threatening 

 cry. He seemed determined to keep at a safe distance 

 until he found he could drive me; then he ventured 

 nearer; and now I have gained his confidence, suffi- 

 ciently so that he listens to my nonsense. He turns his 

 head in a comical manner, first one side and then the 

 other, and looks down upon me patronizingly, as if pity- 

 ing my poor attempts at bird language. Then he raises 

 himself in a dignified manner, and pours forth such a. 

 strain of music that I am humbled in his presence. 



